This holiday weekend was the first full weekend of black college football action and the action on the field produced historic events. Saturday, the Bison of Howard University won their first opening season game in over a decade by upsetting UNLV 43-40. This game has been labeled as the biggest upset in college football history as Howard was a 45 point underdog coming into the contest.
Howard quarterback Caylin ” Don’t call me lil Cam” Newton led the Bison’s’ ” Go-Go” offense as HU picked up their first victory over a school from the Football Bowl Subdivision in school history. Newton rushed for 190yards and threw for 140 yards as he produced 3 touchdowns with a performance that got the attention of the Black College Football Hall of Fame who added the young QB to their watch list for the best player in college football this season. The freshman’s performance made him only the second Howard University player to rush for over a hundred yards against an FBS opponent. This game was the first meeting between the Rebels and the Bison on a night when both teams were celebrating past champions with logos and decals on their helmets. Howard running back Anthony Philyaw was responsible for 130 all purpose yards and he scored two TDs. The Bison “Buffalo Soldier ” Defense was led by Leland Lassiter and his 11 tackles and Devin Rollins who actually recovered a fumble and raced 75 yards for a TD.
Speaking of FBS and FCS Matchups the defending national black college national champs the Grambling State Tigers fell to the Tulane green waves 44-14 as the tigers offense was led by running back Martez Carter who gained 68 yards and scored a pair of second half touchdowns in. losing effort. The Spartans of Norfolk State fell to the Trojans of Virginia State 14-10 in the Labor Day classic. The Trojan win was their first in the classic since 2005 and their attack was l led by senior running back Trenton Cannon who finished the day with 145 yards rushing.
In other action the Morgan State Bears came up short 10-0 in a defensive battle against Towson in the ” The Battle for Greater Baltimore”. The Bears defense held the Tigers to only 102 yards of total offense and despite intercepting Towson quarterback Morgan Mahalak three times still came up short on the score board. The quarterbacks on t both teams were sacked three times and the Tigers defense set up the only touchdown of the day as Monty Fenner intercepted a an Elijah Stanley pass, returning it 32 yards to the Bears two yard line and the Tigers scored on the next play. This was the first meeting of the two schools since 2011 and the Tigers lead the series 18wins to the Bears 6.
Sunday in the MEAC/SWAC challenge Southern University out last South Carolina State 14-8 as Jaguars quarterback Austin Howard connected on 18 of his 31 passing attempts to finish the day with 198 yards passing and he used his legs as well to score one of Southerns two touchdowns on the day. The jags struck first as running back Devon Benn scored on a 27 yard run early in the first quarter. One bright spot in the loss for the Bulldogs is that All-American Senior Linebacker Darius Leonard finished with 12 tackles on his way to becoming South Carolina States’ all time leading tackler.
Other action included Cheyney pummeling Lincoln (PA) In ” The Battle of first” 56-28 , Delaware beats Delaware State in the “First State Classic” , Bowie State blast Setin Hill 48-7 and Alabama-Birmingham beat Alabama A&M 37-7, while North Dakota State man handled Mississippi Valley State 72-7 and North Carolina A&T beat Gardner-Webb 45-3
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Trevin A Jones
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